Carla Howell: An Alternative for Conservatives? By Ed Oliver October 2002 Print Edition

Carla Howell discusses 2nd Amendment rights with patrons of Blue Northern Trading Co. in Ayer.

Where can a conservative find a voice in Massachusetts politics?

A conservative believes in traditional family values, limited government and taxes, freedom to carry firearms, respect for the free market and private property, and control over their child's education.

The Republican Party has traditionally been the home for conservatives, but over time, the GOP leadership has moved increasingly leftward while taking the conservative voter for granted. "After all," say the politicians, "where else will they go?"

Mitt Romney and Kerry Healey appear to be a sequel to the Weld/Cellucci/Swift brand of Republican. Under those governors, not much, if anything, has happened to excite conservatives.

Republican governors have appointed far-left liberal judges, lavished money on the education bureaucracy, promoted the gay agenda in the schools, signed off on budgets with billion dollar increases and kept the status quo with regards to anti-family agencies such as DSS.

The only bright spot for conservatives this election was candidate for Lt. Governor, Jim Rappaport, who was defeated in the primary. Rappaport might have tempered Mitt Romney's more liberal agenda.

Conservative Republican voters who have not defected are like loyal fans of a perennially losing baseball team. They reassure themselves by saying "wait till next year," in vain hopes that the party will promote a true, small government conservative in some future election. But until that elusive day arrives, they are resigned to voting for the "lesser of two evils."

Meanwhile, the budget continues to balloon, the state becomes more intrusive, taxes increase, families disintegrate while mom works and kids go to day care, and then a new round of government programs and spending occurs to "fix" the problems caused or exacerbated by previous government programs.

Many agree that the two major parties are so hopelessly addicted to government power and bloat that they will never reform themselves without a major shock to their senses.

It has been suggested that one way to make politicians back away from the public trough is to shut off the money spigot. As former talk host Jerry Williams used to say, "Stop feeding the beast."

There will be a question on the ballot this November to do just that by eliminating the state income tax. But will the politicians and mass media allow that much money to slip away from them if it passes? At the least, its passage will send a strong message, but one that may ultimately be ignored or offset with other taxes.

Another possibility is to introduce some competition for elective office in the form of principled third party candidates devoted to small government, such as the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian may not win, but may draw enough voters to force the major-party candidates to adopt positions favoring smaller government. It is the same principle underlying school choice. The failing schools either reform themselves, or they risk losing students.

Libertarian candidate for governor, Carla Howell, gets high marks from conservatives for her stand on taxes, DSS, limited government and gun rights, but what about her stand on some important social issues like abortion, drugs and sex?

Some argue that if conservatives are holding their noses anyway to vote for big spending, pro-abortion Republican candidates for governor, why not vote for the Libertarian, and at least make real inroads into slashing big government, while reaping the benefits of freedom?

MassNews asked Carla Howell to help conservatives understand her views on social issues.

Howell at first said she is too busy campaigning, but then agreed to answer questions submitted to her about three social issues. She responded to two of them, and ignored the third issue.

Carla Howell on Abortion:

MassNews: What is the Carla Howell/Libertarian message on the issue of abortion?

Howell: Separation of abortion and government. No government regulations, subsidies, nor involvement.

MassNews: Would abortions increase or decrease under a Libertarian governor?

Howell: Abortions would likely decrease because:

1. Libertarian Governor Carla Howell will initiate and advocate a bill to remove barriers to adoption.
2. Small government fosters personal responsibility. Those who engage in behaviors that result in an unwanted pregnancy are more likely to think through the consequences and avoid undesirable outcomes.

MassNews: Are laws against murder inconsistent with the Libertarian platform?

Howell: No.

MassNews: Do Libertarians see abortion as murder?

Howell: Personal views on this issue vary widely among Libertarians.

MassNews: Many pro-choice people still see partial birth abortions as infanticide. What about laws banning partial birth abortions?

Howell: [Did not respond. It is assumed her first answer addresses this question.]

Carla Howell on Drugs:

MassNews: What is the Carla Howell/Libertarian message on the issue of drugs?

Howell: Like Alcohol Prohibition, Drug Prohibition doesn't work.

Drug Prohibition makes things worse.

Drug Prohibition creates new problems.

Drug Prohibition is wasteful and costly.

Drug Prohibition diverts money and energy from positive, productive uses.

Alcohol Prohibition stimulated widespread and dangerous use of alcohol, especially among the youth. Drug Prohibition has spurred widespread and dangerous use of drugs, especially among the youth.

Alcohol Prohibition gave birth to organized crime in America and spurred corruption of our law enforcement. Drug Prohibition gave birth to drug gangs, a massive increase in violent crime, and widespread corruption of our law enforcement.

Alcohol Prohibition caused the murder rate to double. Drug Prohibition caused a similar increase.

The murder rate dropped back to previous levels after Alcohol Prohibition was repealed. We can expect violence to drop after we repeal Drug Prohibition as well.

Gun-grabbers use the increased murder rate caused by Drug Prohibition to ban guns. The War on Drugs is being used to decimate our Second Amendment rights - and virtually every other right guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

We must immediately repeal Drug Prohibition and encourage personal responsibility. Anyone who harms someone else under the influence of drugs, or any other substance, should be held civilly and criminally liable for damages.

MassNews: Would drug use increase under a Libertarian governor?

Howell: No. Drug use, and especially dangerous drug use, has skyrocketed under Drug Prohibition. Repeal of the Drug War will likely dramatically decrease dangerous use of drugs.

MassNews: While many conservatives agree that the drug war is not consistent with freedom, has failed and should be ended, many conservatives disagree with the message from some Libertarians that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. They say this message encourages young people to try it without giving them the true facts. Studies have shown that alcohol disappears from the blood stream after so many hours, yet chemicals from marijuana stay in the fatty tissue and build up over time. Do you agree/disagree with the message that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol?

Howell: The best available medical studies show that marijuana is overall less dangerous than alcohol. However, this is no reason to encourage its use. We must encourage personal responsibility through individual liberty - and full liability for the consequences of our behavior.

Carla Howell on Pornography/Public Sex:

MassNews: Many conservatives who agree that pornography may be sold in stores and rented on videos as long as it is done discreetly, fear that Libertarians will repeal all laws against public sex and prostitution, and there will be X-rated billboards and a proliferation of pornography on every street corner as well as in the media.

What is the Libertarian message to conservatives worried about the proliferation of sex and pornography?

Howell: [ No Response.]